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“Faust” by Charles Gounod libretto (English)
| Contents: Cast; Act One; Act Two; Act Three; Act Four; Act Five |
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Introduction Faust's study The day is dawning. Faust is sitting at a large table littered with parchments. In front of him lies an open book. FAUST Nothing! In vain do I question, through this zealous vigil, Both Nature and our Maker; No voice comes to murmur in my ear Some word of comfort! I have pined, sad and lonely, Unable to break the fetters Which still bind me to this world! I see nothing! I know nothing! Nothing! Nothing! He closes the book and stands up. The sky lightens! Dark night melts away As the new dawn advances! Another day! Another day grows bright! O Death, when will you come And shelter me beneath your wing? He takes a phial from the table. Well, since Death shuns me, Why should I not go to him? Hail, O my last morning! Fearless, I reach my journey's end; And I am, with this potion, The sole master of my fate! He pours the contents of the phial inside a crystal beaker. As he is about to drink, girlish voices are heard outside YOUNG GIRLS outside Ah! Lazy girl, who are Still slumbering! The day already shines In its golden cloak. The bird already sings Its careless songs; The caressing dawn Smiles on the harvest; The brook prattles, The flower opens to daylight, All Nature Awakens to love! FAUST |
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Idle echoes of human bliss, Go your way! Go by, go by! O you, my forefathers'cup, so often filled, Why do you thus shake in my hand? Again he raises the beaker to his lips. HARVESTERS Dawn calls us back to the fields; One can scarcely see the lark Soaring and suddenly diving down In the deep azure of the sky! Fair is the weather, fair the earth; Blessed be God! YOUNG GIRLS and HARVESTERS Blessed be God! FAUST putting down his beaker God! God! God! He drops back in his armchair But what can this God of their s do for me? Will he give me back love, youth and faith? A curse on you, O human pleasures! A curse on the fetters Which have me grovelling on this earth! A curse on all that deceives us, Idle hope which speeds away with the hours, Dream of love or of battle! A curse on happiness, a curse on science, Prayer and faith! A curse on you, patience! Satan, come to me! MEPHISTOPHELES suddenly appearing Here I am! Why are you surprised? Is my attire not to your taste? My sword at my side, a feather in my hat, Money in my purse, a splendid cloak Over my shoulder; in short, A real lord! Well, doctor, what do you want with me? Come now, speak, are you afraid of me? FAUST No! MEPHISTOPHELES |
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Do you doubt my power? FAUST Perhaps I do! MEPHISTOPHELES Put it to the test then! FAUST Go away! MEPHISTOPHELES Pshaw! Is this how you thank me? Let me tell you that with Satan One must sing another tune And that there was no need To call him such a long way away Only to show him the door! FAUST Well, what can you do for me? MEPHISTOPHELES Everything! But first, tell me What it is you want. Is it gold? FAUST What should I do with riches? MEPHISTOPHELES Very well! I see where the shoe pinches! You yearn for glory? FAUST More than that! MEPHISTOPHELES Power, then? FAUST No! I want a treasure Which contains them all! I want youth! Then, pleasure will be mine, So will young mistresses! Mine their caresses! Mine their desires! Mine the energy Of powerful instincts And the mad orgy Of the heart and senses! |
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Fiery youth, I want your desires, I want your raptures, I want your pleasures!... MEPHISTOPHELES Very well! I can gratify your whim! FAUST And what shall I give you in return? MEPHISTOPHELES A mere trifle. Here, I am in your service But down there, you will be in mine. FAUST Down there? MEPHISTOPHELES holding out a parchment Down there! Come now, sign this. What, your hand is shaking? What can I find to urge you on? Youth is calling you, be bold enough to look at it! He conjures up a vision of Marguerite sitting at her spinning-wheel FAUST O wonder! MEPHISTOPHELES Well? What do you think of it? FAUST taking the parchment Here! He signs MEPHISTOPHELES We are set! He takes the beaker from the table. And now, Master, I myself invite you To drain this vessel In which smokes and bubbles No longer Death, no longer poison, but life! FAUST seizing the beaker To you, divine and bewitching vision! |
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He drains the beaker and is at once changed into a young and elegant lord. The vision vanishes. MEPHISTOPHELES Come! FAUST Shall I see her again? MEPHISTOPHELES No doubt you will. FAUST When? MEPHISTOPHELES This very day! FAUST Very well! MEPHISTOPHELES Away, then! FAUST and MEPHISTOPHELES Away! Pleasure will be mine/yours, So will young mistresses, etc. They go out |
| Contents: Cast; Act One; Act Two; Act Three; Act Four; Act Five |